January 24: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

SOUTHWEST ASIA —On Jan. 23, Coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes consisting of 54 engagements against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes consisting of 16 engagements using attack, bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft as well as rocket artillery against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 38 engagements coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq using attack, bomber, fighter, remotely piloted, and rotary aircraft as well as rocket artillery against ISIL targets.

Syria. Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an oil well head.. Near Al Bab, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and destroyed a vehicle, two mortar systems, and an ammunition cache.. Near Al Shadaddi, one strike destroyed an ISIL front-end loader.. Near Ar Raqqah, five strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and destroyed a UAV tower, an ISIL decoy tank, and an IED factory.. Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed two oil trucks, two oil pump jacks and two vehicles.. Near Palmyra, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit.

Iraq. Near Kisik, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed a vehicle, a supply cache, a fighting position; and damaged a tunnel.. Near Mosul, five strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units, a mortar cache, an IED storage facility, an ammunition storage facility, two tactical vehicles, a fighting position, two mortars, a tow truck, 14 watercraft, three barges, two tanker trucks, two front-end loaders, and eight vehicles; suppressed a mortar team; and damaged a supply route, a crane and a tractor.. Near Rawah, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed a recoilless rifle, a mortar system, a vehicle; and damaged a bunker.

Strike assessments are based on initial reports. All aircraft returned to base safely.

A strike, as defined in the CJTF releases, means one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative effect for that location.

So having a single aircraft deliver a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of buildings and vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making that facility (or facilities) harder or impossible to use.

Accordingly, CJTF-OIR does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. The information used to compile the daily strike releases is based on 'Z' or Greenwich Mean Time.

Ground-based artillery fired in counter-fire or in fire support to maneuver roles are not classified as a strike as defined by CJTF-OIR.

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community.

The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct operations. Coalition nations which have conducted strikes in Iraq include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Coalition nations which have conducted strikes in Syria include Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.